Plymouth Marjons 1st XI 2

Falmouth ladies 1st XI 5

IN their first Premier Two league game in the club's history, Falmouth ladies 1st team travelled to Devon with everything to gain and nothing to lose.

It was a luxurious position to be in and they wasted little time capitalising on their mental advantage, quickly gaining ascendancy over an edgy home team who were relegated from Premier 1 last season and played with a palpable lack of confidence.

It is difficult to say which side was most stunned when Falmouth, with the Plymouth goal firmly under siege straight from the whistle, converted in the third minute following an audacious first time swipe from Fi Rundle on the right post. The visitors had barely finished celebrating when their resident speed-machine, Rachael Tatlow, skipped down the right wing, dancing in and out of defenders to bag a second.

Visibly fired up, Falmouth harnessed the spirit and in the seventh minute Rundle placed a ball on to a sluggish defender's foot in the attacking circle. Skipper, Clare Hudson, wasted little time converting the resulting penalty corner, sending in a ruthless shot for a 3-0 goal lead inside eight minutes.

Energetic Vicky Rushton was unlucky not to extend the shotgun lead further when she dived to reach a cross from Tatlow, only to see her effort bounce off the left post.

Despite their dominance and goal margin, they continued to work hard in what was an increasingly fast and furious game.

New signing, Amy Brader, was a rock in defence and player of the match, Hanna Royle, thwarted the students' forwards on numerous occasions while fellow defender Megan Cookson also put on an impressive display. Goalkeeper, June Moore, showed strength and calmness between the posts with some fine, controlled kicking.

With midfielders Fay Robinson, Clare Hudson and Sarah Hudson, working tirelessly in midfield Falmouth continued to dominate with the skipper cracking home the fourth goal from a clinical penalty corner with 25 minutes gone. A rare lapse in defence saw Plymouth scramble a lucky goal just before the interval to make the score to 4-1.

The second half saw much of the same, but Plymouth belatedly rearranged their defence in an effort to cope with Falmouth's industrious forward line as the visitors piled on the pressure on.

After conceding a second against the run of play - another freak deflection from a defender's stick - Falmouth worked hard to defend and prevent a late comeback from their frustrated opposition. They toiled and kept possession until midfield powerhouse Clare Hudson bagged a fitting fifth goal to gain a deserved hat-trick and ensure a historic win for the visitors.

On Saturday, Falmouth travel up-country for a double-header, facing Chippenham on Saturday and Yate and South Gloucestershire on Sunday.